Engineer arrested for allegedly stealing machines from construction company

A 37-year-old engineer, Timothy Gwom-Pam, appeared in court on Monday for allegedly stealing machines from a construction company.

Gwom-Pam, who resides in Zamani Village Airport road, Abuja, was charged with joint act and theft.

However, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Stanley Nwafoaku, a direct criminal complaint was referred to the Area Command Life Camp, Abuja, on July 6.

The complaint was made by Mr Wojuola Olaide of Gwarimpa Abuja and was investigated for three weeks.

The report stated that Olaide had reported the matter to the Kado Area Court.

Olaide had been working with MW Global Services Limited as a road contractor and infrastructure worker for several years. The defendant, Gwom-Pam, had left the job in March.

The during investigation, the police found that the defendant criminally connived with one Chidi now at large and stole the machines.

The police said the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 79 and 287 of the penal code law.

The Defence Counsel, Mrs Charity Nwosu made an oral application citing section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and section 158 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, assuring that the defendant would not jump bail if granted.

Nwosu also said the defendant has a reliable and gainfully employed surety.

The police did not object to the bail application made by the defense counsel.

The Area Court Judge, Malam Mohammed Wakili, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Wakili ordered that the defendant must provide a reliable surety, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He added that the surety must provide a BVN printout, two recent passport photographs and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrer.

The judge adjourned the case until Oct.10 for hearing.